My Home Ideas

Special Offers

Be the first to know about This Old House contests, sweepstakes, and events and receive special offers and promotions from your favorite home improvement brands. We'll even send you regular reminders to enter our sweepstakes.

If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Painting bathroom

Hi there,
I am doing prep work to paint my bathroom - drywall upper and shower stall ceiling, plus wooden panels. What type of primer and paint would you recommend? I have almost a full gallon of Zinser oil based primer. What about paint, which one is the best?
Thank you,
Housedoc

Re: Painting bathroom

Zinnser primers are good quality and are easy to use. As far as top coats, stick with name brand paint dealers such as Kelly Moore or Sherwin Williams, among others, and stay away from the garbage the big boxes carry, especially Behr.

I suffer from CDO ... Its like OCD, but in alphabetical order, LIKE IT SHOULD BE!!!

Re: Painting bathroom

Just to spite Spruce, I have been using Behr Ultra Eggshell in my baths and laundry! I have had nothing but great results with the product. My guest bath, which my son manages to stream up during long hot showers, is holding up especially well.

If I have had a complaint with the Behr Eggshell Ultra, it is that when going over a well sealed wall, it has more like a sateen sheen. I am not a big fan of high sheens, just from the point of personal aesthetics.

One of the benefits of Behr Ultra is that it allows the use of low sheen paint where traditionally a semi-gloss would be used for protection against moisture. The nano particles form an extremely dense, moisture resistant finish.

Re: Painting bathroom

Thank you all!
Ordjen, high gloss is also not on my list of preferred finishes. Besides, I have a generally good experience with Behr (sorry Spruce), not that you would call it experience in true sense of word. (BTW -I did not like Benjamin Moore - left unsightly streaks on my wall...)
Do you think I will need 2 coats of Zinsser oil primer and 2 coats of Behr eggshell ultra for better waterproofing? I don't mind spending extra time and paint to get superior results...
Thank you,
Housedoc

Re: Painting bathroom

Housedoc,

One coat of oil primer is sufficient. As to whether two finish coats of Behr Ultra Eggfshell is neccessary, it is a judgement call. If one coat looks good, that should be fine. Certainly, two finish coats does not hurt.

Re: Painting bathroom

On the drywall surfaces I would use a water base primer.. On the wood sections I would use an oil base primer, only if raw.. I would never use an oil base paint.. 1 if you spay & 2 coats if you are going to brush & roll